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“The international community should increase pressure on the Azerbaijani government to release 23 journalists and media representatives who are unjustly imprisoned in Azerbaijan…”

(Lack of) Human Rights and Freedoms

The Azerbaijani government has intensified its repression ahead of the COP29 conference to be held in Baku. A young political analyst and PhD candidate at Charles University in Prague, Behruz Samadov, has reportedly been detained. In his articles, Samadov has repeatedly criticized the Azerbaijani government for its authoritarianism and its stance on the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, and he has spoken on these topics at international events. According to information provided by his family members, the police conducted a search of Samadov’s residence, seizing his phone, laptop, and several documents. No information has been provided about where Samadov is being held. The charges against him have not been confirmed either, although his family has been told by the police that he is accused of treason.

According to the reports of International Human rights organizations there are more than 300 political prisoners in Azerbaijan.

Detained journalist Ulvi Hasanli is reportedly being threatened with death, according to his family. After Hasanli publicized incidents of torture at the Kurdakhani detention facility, a fellow inmate named Siyavush was placed in his cell. Siyavush has repeatedly threatened to kill Hasanli with a razor. Moreover, Siyavush frequently meets with the prison warden, Elnur Ismayilov, and claims to receive special treatment from him. Hasanli‘s family fears for his life. His wife wife, Rubaba Guliyeva, said that during their recent phone call, Ulvi informed her that after he wrote about the torture at Baku Detention Facility No. 1, a fellow inmate began provoking him. Hasanli described how Siyavush, a man in his 60s imprisoned on drug charges, has been particularly aggressive towards him. Siyavush has attacked Hasanli several times and even threatened him with a razor.

Hasanli also mentioned that Siyavush has had frequent meetings with warden Elnur Ismayilov since his letter on torture in prisons was made public. Siyavush has boasted about how Ismayilov has played a direct role in reducing his sentence. Although Siyavush’s final court ruling has been issued, he has not been transferred to prison and remains in the detention facility, leading Hasanli to believe that he is being kept there to provoke him. Hasanli’s family is deeply concerned for his safety, emphasizing that Siyavush is very dangerous and deliberately instigating these provocations. They fear that Siyavush might even attack Ulvi while he is sleeping, raising serious concerns about who will be held accountable if something happens.

The European Federation of Journalists (EFJ) has issued a statement calling on the international community to increase pressure on the Azerbaijani government to release 23 journalists and media representatives who are unjustly imprisoned in Azerbaijan. This year, Azerbaijan is hosting the United Nations Climate Change Conference, known as COP29. The event is scheduled to take place in Baku from November 11-22. Ahead of this international conference, the European Federation of Journalists has called on the UNFCCC Secretariat, based in Bonn, Germany, to ensure that all COP hosts, including Azerbaijan, adhere to international human rights standards and prevent the use of this event as a pretext to impose censorship on journalists and civil society activists. In its statement, the EFJ urged Azerbaijan to adhere to international human rights laws and not use “COP29” as an excuse to impose censorship on journalists and civil society activists.

“The Council of Europe’s Platform for the Protection of Journalism has documented the imprisonment of 23 journalists in Azerbaijan solely for doing their jobs. Among them are six employees of ‘Abzas Media‘: Ulvi Hasanli, Sevinj Vagifgizi, Mohammad Kekalov, Nargiz Absalamova, Hafiz Babali, and Elnara Gasimova.

“We openly support the newly launched #FreeAbzasJournalists campaign demanding the release of these six journalists from this independent media outlet, and we also demand the immediate release of the other 17 media workers unjustly imprisoned in Azerbaijan. Appeal to Georgia to free Afghan Sadykov,” said EFJ Secretary General Ricardo Gutierrez.

Meanwhile, the journalists refused to sign the new 7-point indictment. On August 19, new charges under seven serious articles were brought against Ulvi Hasanli, director of “AbzasMedia,” editor-in-chief Sevinc Vagifgizi, journalist Elnara Gasimova, and investigative journalist Hafiz Babali. Their lawyers informed “AbzasMedia” about this. It was reported that all four individuals detained in the “AbzasMedia case” were charged with new offenses under Articles 192.3.2, 193-1.3.1, 193-1.3.2, 206.4, 320.1, 320.2, and 213.2.1 of the Criminal Code (illegal entrepreneurship resulting in significant income, money laundering of large sums by an organized group, smuggling by an organized group, forgery of documents and use of fake documents, tax evasion by an organized group). It was noted that Ulvi Hasanli, Sevinc Vagifgizi, and Elnara Gasimova refused to sign the indictment.

Detained first-degree disabled person Famil Khalilov has been on a hunger strike for over a week. His wife reports that Khalilov, who requires strong medication due to his disability, is experiencing worsening health. Khalilov was arrested on May 2 and charged under Article 234.4.3 of the Criminal Code (preparation, transportation, or storage of a large quantity of narcotics with intent to sell). A four-month pre-trial detention order was issued against him, with the charges carrying a potential sentence of 5 to 12 years in prison. His family insists that he is innocent and claims that he is being punished for his social media posts.

Valide Ahmadova, a resident of Terter, claims that she was subjected to police violence and was unlawfully detained for over 6 hours along with her sick child. The 58-year-old Ahmadova is the mother of Elchin Guliyev, who lost his life in May 2017 as a result of mass torture against soldiers in Terter. She told Meydan TV that the incident occurred a week ago—on August 15, on the very day that the victims of the Terter events attempted to hold a protest. The victims are demanding that those who lost their lives due to the Terter torture be granted martyrdom status, that official apologies be made to the families, and that the rights of those who were unlawfully dismissed from their jobs during those events be restored, among other demands.

Ahmadova also mentioned in her interview with Meydan TV that, in addition to being tortured during the Terter events, hundreds of soldiers were dismissed from their jobs. Currently, they are struggling financially: “Do you know how many families were torn apart by the Terter events? The damage caused by those events doesn’t end with killing and torturing. There are many victims who were dismissed from their jobs and now work as laborers, carrying sacks just to bring a piece of bread to their homes. Wherever they go, they can’t find work. If they were unfit, why did you recruit them into the military? If they were fit, why did you reduce them to this state? It breaks one’s heart. At the very least, these people should be given what they are entitled to. Ilham Aliyev often says that if officials wrong you, inform me. We are informing him—if he didn’t know before, he knows now. Why doesn’t he take action? Why doesn’t he care for the citizens?”

Azerbaijan has officially applied to join BRICS. This was announced on August 20 by Ayxan Hajizade, the spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Azerbaijan. It was reported that on July 3, during the Shanghai Cooperation Organization Summit held in Astana, a “Joint Declaration on the Establishment of a Strategic Partnership between the Republic of Azerbaijan and the People’s Republic of China” was adopted. According to Article 4.5 of the declaration, Azerbaijan expressed its desire to join BRICS, and China welcomed Azerbaijan’s participation in BRICS cooperation. In a previous article published by AbzasMedia on this topic, it was noted that the nine BRICS member countries, including Russia, India, China, Brazil, the United Arab Emirates, and Iran, are often characterized as a “club of authoritarians” on the international stage. According to political commentators, at a time when the world is divided into two camps—democracies and dictatorships—Azerbaijan’s desire to join BRICS indicates a decision to align with the dictatorship camp.